WINNERS OF EACH REGION FOR RDANSW AWARDS 2011

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2010 Pearl Batchelor Volunteer of the Year, Hazel Aylett with the newly elected Chairperson of RDA NSW, Jaci Armstrong, with Crystal.

Hazel Aylett of Coonabarabran Centre was  announced at the conference held in ORANGE as the state’s top volunteer. Hazel has been volunteering with the RDA for 25 years.

Mrs Aylett, of Coonabarabran, was chosen by an independent judging system involving other community organisations.

She mounted her first horse at the age of five and has maintained a strong bond with horses ever since.

“I used to open the gates to let my dad’s teams of horses in. We lived in the Pilliga scrub on a share farm,” she said.

She said although Riding for the Disabled takes up most of her time it is a labour of love.

“I am lucky because I’m retired and I can put the time into it,” she said.

The full list of Nominees and Winners were:

Joan Edwards with her Seniors Week Achievement Award

Joan Edwards – winner of a Seniors Week Achievement Award for service to Riding for the Disabled Tall Timbers Centre

On Sunday 21st March, at an award Ceremony to celebrate the commencement of NSW Seniors Week, Joan Edwards was one of the sixty award winners from across the State to be presented with an Achievement Award.  Her award was in the category of Community Service/Volunteering. The NSW Seniors Week Achievement Awards are a prestigious recognition of NSW seniors for their contribution to the development of our community, for their leadership and for their initiative. The awards provide an opportunity to formally thank older people for the contributions that they make to the quality of life in our state.

Joan Edwards has been a dedicated and reliable volunteer at Riding for the Disabled, “Tall Timbers” Centre for 33 years.   Joan volunteers each Monday at the Centre at Box Hill and assists when other coaches are unable to attend. Over the years she has taken on the extra responsibility and study to become a Senior Coach and RDA NSW Assessor with many years as the Regional Representative for the Metropolitan Region and has been a member of the
Tall Timbers Committee.

Joan has devoted countless hours to fundraising.  The Centre can always count on Joan to be there and to do things for us when necessary.  She is reliable, knowledgeable and a great friend and inspiration to all. 

 Ita Buttrose and Graham Ross who are Seniors Week Ambassadors presented her award to her.  Family and friends attended the ceremony, which was held at the Sydney Recital Hall.

 Congratulations Joan and thank you from everyone at Tall Timbers and RDA NSW

Contact Jaci Armstrong for details on 0414 224 417 for details.

Click Here for the Invitation 

 ”RDANSW Ryde Centre invites you to join us in Celebrating the ‘Ground  Breaking’ for their new Centre at Marsfield Park on Saturday 27th March  from 9.30am – 11.30am.

 It has been a long journey for Ryde Centre to reach this point and it is  only through the countless hours of work, faith and dedication from so many that we are now approaching the commencement of construction of the   new Centre.

 We hope you can join us in recognising our past and celebrating our future.

 Our local Federal MP, Maxine McKew, Member for Bennelong will join us by officiating at this event.”

 The Riding for the Disabled Association (NSW) – Ryde Centre will be the recipient of $1,544,000, under the Get Communities Working stream of the Jobs Fund, to construct a purpose built equine therapy centre for the provision of therapy and other horse related activities for people with disability.

• The centre will be built in four stages – stage one will include the construction of horse yards, shelter, feed shed and temporary arenas so that therapy classes can recommence.
• Stage two will involve construction of a multi-function centre that will provide permanent amenities for clients, their families/carers and volunteers.
• Stage three involves construction of a permanent covered area that will allow therapy sessions to take place in all weather conditions.
• Stage four will include construction of paths, roads, access ways and car parking suitable for use by people with disabilities including those who have mobility impairments and those who are vision impaired and also landscaping and environmental plantings to encourage native habitats.

This project will provide a valuable social asset to the community and will create or retain an estimated 14 jobs, 10 traineeships and 50 work experience positions.

Federal Member for Bennelong, Maxine McKew MP visited the site to lend her support, with Project Manager Gerard Murphy OAM available to outline the plans. Students from Truscott Street School also came along to show their interest.

 This event will take place at the Royal Easter Show on Monday 5^th April which is Easter Monday.

Riders in the Championship event have already qualified at Regional level late last year.

Centres who do not have riders in the Mounted Games section may still enter a horse in HOTY competition.

  If your centre wishes to enter please reply to State Office for the entry form.

 Entries close 2^nd March.